Written Answers Tuesday 18 January 2005

Scottish Executive

Digital Hearing Aids

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards carry out hearing tests for digital hearing aids.

Rhona Brankin: All NHS boards have the capacity to carry out hearing tests for digital hearing aids. Each NHS board area has its own programme for modernisation and has therefore reached a different stage in the modernisation process.

  The Executive is currently setting up a mechanism for gathering information from audiology departments and it is proposed that this information, which will include details on the provision of digital hearing aids, will be published when the process has been established.

  The Executive’s target is that NHSScotland should be in a position to dispense digital hearing aids in all cases where they represent the most clinically effective option by the end of March 2006.

Environment

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the eco schools programme continues to expand with the support of the eco schools team within Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Ross Finnie: The Executive intends to continue funding the eco schools programme with £125,000 per year, for the next three years, from the Education Department and £100,000 per year, for the next three years, through the Environment and Rural Affairs Department. This represents significant funding for a programme that has the potential to make an important contribution to the development of active citizenship and informing young people about the importance of sustainable development.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing vessels have been registered to each port in each of the last six years, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Ross Finnie: Information about the numbers of vessels by port of registration is collected and maintained by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Table 1 presents the number of vessels by port of registration and table 2 presents these figures as annual percentage changes. These figures differ from those presented in the Scottish Fisheries Statistics publication where "home port" is used throughout.

  Table 1 - Number of Fishing Vessels by Port of Registration in Scotland - 2000 to 2005 (as at 1 January Each Year)

  

Number of Vessels
Year (as at 1 January)


Port of Registration
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005


Aberdeen
38
39
37
33
30
25


Achiltibuie
 
 
 
1
1
1


Annan
9
6
6
5
5
5


Anstruther
28
28
27
26
23
24


Arbroath
25
27
28
25
23
20


Ardnamurchan
13
10
13
13
11
9


Ardrishaig
8
8
7
11
7
7


Arisaig
21
19
20
19
18
21


Avoch
5
2
5
5
5
5


Ayr
21
21
18
18
20
18


Ballantrae
6
6
7
7
6
7


Banff
 
 
 
 
1
1


Benbecula
15
15
13
16
15
16


Bernera (Lewis)
21
19
25
25
24
22


Bernera (N Uist)
6
6
6
7
7
7


Boddam
9
9
9
9
10
9


Bracadale
6
6
5
4
3
4


Broadford
4
9
10
13
14
14


Brora
3
3
5
5
5
5


Buckie
59
60
60
62
56
51


Burghead
4
4
3
3
2
3


Burnmouth
7
7
7
6
6
3


Burntisland
2
2
2
2
1
2


Bute
15
14
14
12
14
12


Campbeltown
34
38
35
36
36
35


Carradale
19
15
15
17
14
14


Castlebay
54
50
52
57
55
52


Catterline
2
1
1
 
 
 


Central Mainland (Shetland)
13
13
13
13
12
10


Coll
6
6
6
6
6
6


Colonsay
1
1
1
1
1
1


Cove (Leith)
2
2
2
2
2
2


Crail
10
11
9
9
10
11


Cumbraes
1
 
 
 
 
 


Drummore
10
11
9
9
9
9


Dunbar
15
15
13
13
14
13


Dunbeath
5
6
5
3
3
3


Dunrossness and Fair Isle
16
16
16
18
16
16


Dunure
6
7
7
7
5
6


Dunvegan
12
12
11
9
10
12


Erribol
7
7
7
6
6
6


Eyemouth
26
28
33
33
30
29


Findochty
3
3
3
2
1
1


Fort William
6
6
7
9
9
8


Fraserburgh
157
161
161
129
110
111


Gairloch
9
8
8
7
7
7


Gardenstown
30
28
27
26
24
25


Gareloch
2
2
1
1
1
1


Gigha
7
7
7
6
5
5


Girvan
12
11
11
10
9
8


Glasgow
 
 
 
 
1
 


Gourdon
14
13
13
14
13
13


Granton
11
11
11
11
11
10


Greenock
10
8
8
9
10
10


Grimsay
21
19
18
17
17
16


Gruinard - Aultbea
4
3
4
5
5
5


Helmsdale
12
14
12
14
12
11


Hopeman
10
9
9
6
5
5


Hoy
13
13
12
9
8
7


Invergordon
1
1
2
5
3
4


Inverness
3
2
2
5
5
4


Islay
42
39
40
39
38
35


Isle of Whithorn
13
11
10
8
7
6


John O'Groats
22
21
21
22
20
19


Johnshaven
5
5
6
8
7
6


Jura
3
4
4
4
4
4


Keiss
9
7
8
9
7
7


Kinlochbervie
14
13
13
12
15
16


Kirkcudbright
27
26
27
28
28
29


Kirkwall
49
47
51
48
43
46


Kyle
29
31
31
30
28
29


Kylesku
1
1
1
1
1
1


Largs
1
1
1
1
1
 


Leith
1
1
 
 
 
 


Lerwick
58
55
50
47
39
41


Loch Buie (Mull)
2
2
2
3
2
2


Loch Carnan
1
1
1
1
1
1


Loch Glendcoul -Culkein
2
3
3
2
2
2


Loch Scridain (Isle Mull)
36
35
39
33
30
22


Lochboisdale
 
 
 
 
 
1


Lochinver
20
17
18
18
17
15


Lossiemouth
15
15
12
8
4
5


Luing
27
25
22
22
22
20


Lybster
9
9
9
9
8
7


Macduff
45
41
44
41
34
33


Maidens
2
2
1
 
 
 


Mallaig
59
62
63
58
52
51


Methil And Leven
12
13
13
11
12
11


Montrose
16
13
14
13
12
13


North Arran
9
8
8
8
6
6


North Berwick
7
7
7
6
6
6


North Harris
1
2
2
1
2
2


North Uist
43
41
41
39
37
37


Northmavine
9
9
8
9
10
10


Oban
60
57
57
55
55
56


Pennan
1
1
1
1
1
1


Peterhead
127
127
132
105
93
89


Pittenweem
22
24
25
24
23
22


Port Ellen
2
2
3
2
2
2


Port Erroll
2
2
2
2
2
1


Port Seton
23
21
20
18
18
16


Port William
1
 
 
 
 
 


Portknockie
6
6
6
7
6
6


Portmahomack
2
2
2
6
5
7


Portnaguran
11
12
13
14
14
13


Portpatrick
4
4
3
1
1
1


Portree
30
25
30
22
22
27


Portskerra
3
3
3
3
3
2


Portsoy
4
4
4
4
5
6


Rosehearty
6
6
6
7
7
8


Rousay to Shapinsay
7
5
4
5
4
4


Sanday
19
16
14
15
11
10


Sandhaven and Pitullie
7
5
5
7
7
7


Scalloway and Isles
56
55
54
46
41
36


Scalpay
26
23
20
20
18
19


Scourie
2
2
3
7
7
7


Scrabster
35
38
35
27
23
21


Shetland
 
 
 
 
1
1


Sleat
2
3
3
6
5
4


Snizort
6
6
7
9
9
9


South Harris
25
28
28
28
24
22


South Lochs
18
17
17
16
16
16


South Ronaldsay
13
14
15
17
18
17


South Uist and Eriskay
42
39
39
43
44
43


St Abbs
21
19
17
14
14
12


St Andrews
16
15
14
13
12
12


St Monance
7
6
5
2
2
1


Stonehaven
5
6
7
8
8
8


Stornoway
47
45
42
42
46
48


Stranraer
6
5
5
7
8
6


Strathaird
13
10
11
13
12
13


Stromness
28
25
23
17
15
14


Stronsay
8
10
9
8
8
9


Tarbert
33
34
35
33
30
31


Tayinloan
4
4
4
4
4
5


Tayvallich
5
5
5
5
5
5


Tingwall
8
10
10
17
17
16


Tiree
10
9
7
7
7
7


Tobermory (Isle of Mull)
24
20
19
18
19
19


Torridon
23
19
18
20
22
21


Troon
34
34
33
31
31
31


Ullapool
42
44
45
47
48
51


Unspecified Scottish Port
 
 
 
 
1
1


West Loch Tarbert
4
4
5
6
6
5


West Mainland (Shetland)
26
26
25
25
22
20


Westray
37
37
38
34
33
33


Whalsay and Skerries
43
44
48
47
41
39


Whitehills
14
14
13
16
14
14


Wick
30
30
28
24
24
25


Yell and Fetlar
20
21
20
20
18
20


All Scottish Ports
2,548
2,488
2,485
2,385
2,239
2,189



  Source: Register of Shipping and Seamen.

  Table 2 – Annual Percentage Change in Number of Fishing Vessels by Port of Registration in Scotland - 2000 to 2005 (as at 1 January Each Year)

  

Percentage Change in Number of Vessels
Year (as at 1 Jan)


Port Of Registration
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05


Aberdeen
3%
-5%
-11%
-9%
-17%


Achiltibuie
-
-
-
0%
0%


Annan
-33%
0%
-17%
0%
0%


Anstruther
0%
-4%
-4%
-12%
4%


Arbroath
8%
4%
-11%
-8%
-13%


Ardnamurchan
-23%
30%
0%
-15%
-18%


Ardrishaig
0%
-13%
57%
-36%
0%


Arisaig
-10%
5%
-5%
-5%
17%


Avoch
-60%
150%
0%
0%
0%


Ayr
0%
-14%
0%
11%
-10%


Ballantrae
0%
17%
0%
-14%
17%


Banff
-
-
-
-
0%


Benbecula
0%
-13%
23%
-6%
7%


Bernera (Lewis)
-10%
32%
0%
-4%
-8%


Bernera (N Uist)
0%
0%
17%
0%
0%


Boddam
0%
0%
0%
11%
-10%


Bracadale
0%
-17%
-20%
-25%
33%


Broadford
125%
11%
30%
8%
0%


Brora
0%
67%
0%
0%
0%


Buckie
2%
0%
3%
-10%
-9%


Burghead
0%
-25%
0%
-33%
50%


Burnmouth
0%
0%
-14%
0%
-50%


Burntisland
0%
0%
0%
-50%
100%


Bute
-7%
0%
-14%
17%
-14%


Campbeltown
12%
-8%
3%
0%
-3%


Carradale
-21%
0%
13%
-18%
0%


Castlebay
-7%
4%
10%
-4%
-5%


Catterline
-50%
0%
-100%
-
-


Central Mainland (Shetland)
0%
0%
0%
-8%
-17%


Coll
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Colonsay
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Cove (Leith)
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Crail
10%
-18%
0%
11%
10%


Cumbraes
-100%
-
-
-
-


Drummore
10%
-18%
0%
0%
0%


Dunbar
0%
-13%
0%
8%
-7%


Dunbeath
20%
-17%
-40%
0%
0%


Dunrossness and Fair Isle
0%
0%
13%
-11%
0%


Dunure
17%
0%
0%
-29%
20%


Dunvegan
0%
-8%
-18%
11%
20%


Erribol
0%
0%
-14%
0%
0%


Eyemouth
8%
18%
0%
-9%
-3%


Findochty
0%
0%
-33%
-50%
0%


Fort William
0%
17%
29%
0%
-11%


Fraserburgh
3%
0%
-20%
-15%
1%


Gairloch
-11%
0%
-13%
0%
0%


Gardenstown
-7%
-4%
-4%
-8%
4%


Gareloch
0%
-50%
0%
0%
0%


Gigha
0%
0%
-14%
-17%
0%


Girvan
-8%
0%
-9%
-10%
-11%


Glasgow
-
-
-
-
-100%


Gourdon
-7%
0%
8%
-7%
0%


Granton
0%
0%
0%
0%
-9%


Greenock
-20%
0%
13%
11%
0%


Grimsay
-10%
-5%
-6%
0%
-6%


Gruinard - Aultbea
-25%
33%
25%
0%
0%


Helmsdale
17%
-14%
17%
-14%
-8%


Hopeman
-10%
0%
-33%
-17%
0%


Hoy
0%
-8%
-25%
-11%
-13%


Invergordon
0%
100%
150%
-40%
33%


Inverness
-33%
0%
150%
0%
-20%


Islay
-7%
3%
-3%
-3%
-8%


Isle of Whithorn
-15%
-9%
-20%
-13%
-14%


John O'Groats
-5%
0%
5%
-9%
-5%


Johnshaven
0%
20%
33%
-13%
-14%


Jura
33%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Keiss
-22%
14%
13%
-22%
0%


Kinlochbervie
-7%
0%
-8%
25%
7%


Kirkcudbright
-4%
4%
4%
0%
4%


Kirkwall
-4%
9%
-6%
-10%
7%


Kyle
7%
0%
-3%
-7%
4%


Kylesku
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Largs
0%
0%
0%
0%
-100%


Leith
0%
-100%
-
-
-


Lerwick
-5%
-9%
-6%
-17%
5%


Loch Buie (Mull)
0%
0%
50%
-33%
0%


Loch Carnan
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Loch Glendcoul -Culkein
50%
0%
-33%
0%
0%


Loch Scridain (Isle Mull)
-3%
11%
-15%
-9%
-27%


Lochboisdale
-
-
-
-
-


Lochinver
-15%
6%
0%
-6%
-12%


Lossiemouth
0%
-20%
-33%
-50%
25%


Luing
-7%
-12%
0%
0%
-9%


Lybster
0%
0%
0%
-11%
-13%


Macduff
-9%
7%
-7%
-17%
-3%


Maidens
0%
-50%
-100%
-
-


Mallaig
5%
2%
-8%
-10%
-2%


Methil And Leven
8%
0%
-15%
9%
-8%


Montrose
-19%
8%
-7%
-8%
8%


North Arran
-11%
0%
0%
-25%
0%


North Berwick
0%
0%
-14%
0%
0%


North Harris
100%
0%
-50%
100%
0%


North Uist
-5%
0%
-5%
-5%
0%


Northmavine
0%
-11%
13%
11%
0%


Oban
-5%
0%
-4%
0%
2%


Pennan
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Peterhead
0%
4%
-20%
-11%
-4%


Pittenweem
9%
4%
-4%
-4%
-4%


Port Ellen
0%
50%
-33%
0%
0%


Port Erroll
0%
0%
0%
0%
-50%


Port Seton
-9%
-5%
-10%
0%
-11%


Port William
-100%
-
-
-
-


Portknockie
0%
0%
17%
-14%
0%


Portmahomack
0%
0%
200%
-17%
40%


Portnaguran
9%
8%
8%
0%
-7%


Portpatrick
0%
-25%
-67%
0%
0%


Portree
-17%
20%
-27%
0%
23%


Portskerra
0%
0%
0%
0%
-33%


Portsoy
0%
0%
0%
25%
20%


Rosehearty
0%
0%
17%
0%
14%


Rousay to Shapinsay
-29%
-20%
25%
-20%
0%


Sanday
-16%
-13%
7%
-27%
-9%


Sandhaven and Pitullie
-29%
0%
40%
0%
0%


Scalloway and Isles
-2%
-2%
-15%
-11%
-12%


Scalpay
-12%
-13%
0%
-10%
6%


Scourie
0%
50%
133%
0%
0%


Scrabster
9%
-8%
-23%
-15%
-9%


Shetland
-
-
-
-
0%


Sleat
50%
0%
100%
-17%
-20%


Snizort
0%
17%
29%
0%
0%


South Harris
12%
0%
0%
-14%
-8%


South Lochs
-6%
0%
-6%
0%
0%


South Ronaldsay
8%
7%
13%
6%
-6%


South Uist and Eriskay
-7%
0%
10%
2%
-2%


St Abbs
-10%
-11%
-18%
0%
-14%


St Andrews
-6%
-7%
-7%
-8%
0%


St Monance
-14%
-17%
-60%
0%
-50%


Stonehaven
20%
17%
14%
0%
0%


Stornoway
-4%
-7%
0%
10%
4%


Stranraer
-17%
0%
40%
14%
-25%


Strathaird
-23%
10%
18%
-8%
8%


Stromness
-11%
-8%
-26%
-12%
-7%


Stronsay
25%
-10%
-11%
0%
13%


Tarbert
3%
3%
-6%
-9%
3%


Tayinloan
0%
0%
0%
0%
25%


Tayvallich
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%


Tingwall
25%
0%
70%
0%
-6%


Tiree
-10%
-22%
0%
0%
0%


Tobermory (Isle of Mull)
-17%
-5%
-5%
6%
0%


Torridon
-17%
-5%
11%
10%
-5%


Troon
0%
-3%
-6%
0%
0%


Ullapool
5%
2%
4%
2%
6%


Unspecified Scottish Port
-
-
-
-
0%


West Loch Tarbert
0%
25%
20%
0%
-17%


West Mainland (Shetland)
0%
-4%
0%
-12%
-9%


Westray
0%
3%
-11%
-3%
0%


Whalsay and Skerries
2%
9%
-2%
-13%
-5%


Whitehills
0%
-7%
23%
-13%
0%


Wick
0%
-7%
-14%
0%
4%


Yell and Fetlar
5%
-5%
0%
-10%
11%


All Scottish Ports
-2%
0%
-4%
-6%
-2%



  Source: Register of Shipping and Seamen.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12789 by Rhona Brankin on 15 December 2004, how much of the Health Improvement Fund funding referred to was allocated to each NHS board.

Rhona Brankin: Full details about the Health Improvement Fund allocations made to NHS boards was given in the 2002 publication Putting the Pieces in Place,  a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19606) or on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/health/shif-00.asp .

Rail Network

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide any information concerning the outcomes of discussions with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the financial aspects of the UK rail review.

Nicol Stephen: The Secretary of State for Transport will transfer to the Scottish Executive funding sufficient to cover all the responsibilities transferred to Scottish ministers by virtue of the Railways Bill currently before the UK Parliament.

  The Scottish Executive will receive a Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) transfer from Department for Transport of £7.5 million to accompany the transfer of the majority of the Strategic Rail Authority’s functions to the Scottish Executive.

  The Executive will assume responsibility for specifying (via the Office of Rail Regulation) the network outputs in Scotland. The Scottish Executive will receive a DEL transfer from Department for Transport of around £300 million to fund Network Rail’s operation, maintenance and renewals activities in Scotland to deliver the network outputs in Scotland. Allocation of relevant income from track access charges from passenger and freight operators has been taken into account. This will take effect from 1 April 2006.

  A significant proportion of this funding relates to a new Scotland element of Network Rail’s regulatory asset base (RAB). The disagregation of the current GB RAB into elements for Scotland and for England and Wales will be determined by the Office of Rail Regulation before the end of 2005, following joint representations by DfT and the Scottish Executive. The Department for Transport and Scottish Executive will each receive funding precisely sufficient to remunerate their respective RABs. The Scottish Executive and Department for Transport agree that the best estimate that can be made of the RAB for Scotland in advance of the Office of Rail Regulation’s determination is that it will be very close to 10 per cent of the RAB for Great Britain, which is the basis on which the RAB spend above is calculated.

  The Executive will also assume funding responsibility for rail enhancement projects. To fund rail enhancements the Scottish Executive will receive the following:

  A DEL transfer of £17 million per year from 1 April 2006.

  A proportionate increase, via the application of the Barnett Formula, of future increases in the Department for Transport spending on enhancements in England and Wales.

  A paper has been placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34945) which provides further details.

  In addition, this agreement enables us to announce that full funding is now available from the Executive for phase one of the Waverley Station redevelopment.

Social Inclusion

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to meet its Closing the Opportunity Gap financial inclusion target.

Johann Lamont: Financial inclusion is a key objective of the Executive’s Closing the Opportunity Gap approach to tackling poverty, by enabling people to use bank accounts, build savings and increasing access to affordable credit. To encourage the development of activities which achieve these aims, we are publishing the Financial Inclusion Action Plan. This document sets out what action the Executive will take to initiate and support such activities, as well as giving direction to other organisations which have a part to play in tackling financial exclusion. I am also announcing funding of £5 million per annum from 2006-07 to support the development of such activities.

  Copies of the Financial Inclusion Action Plan can be found in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34879).